Thou Shalt Not Complaineth

Jody and I are moving into a 2 bedroom apartment next year and the rent is going up by QUITE a lot. Like an extra $125 a month. Plus our cable and alarm are no longer included. So that'll be extra, too. And we need to get furniture. And my car insurance is ridiculous. And I can't afford to eat healthy so the clothes are fitting nice and tight. And I have to buy a plane ticket to fly to Illinois. And lots of wedding presents. And I HAVE NO MONEY!!! I haven't bought new clothes in months and I can't even affod to get my nails done! Where is it all going?! Aaaahhhhhh...I am NOT being stupid with my money, so WHAT is the deal?!

These, all words of wisdom from my own mouth this very afternoon. And then God looked down on me...and laughed.

I seriously think He has the best sense of humor ever. Because everytime I'm like "AH, GOD! I CAN'T DO THIS, I CAN'T!," He reminds me that I don't have to worry about it. What was it this time? The fact that I was going to eat Saltines for dinner, but we have company. So, naturally, ordering pizza came up and we figured that we would probably be able to scrape some change together to work it out. So Kate calls Papa and we get a large pizza and breadsticks for the 4 of us to share. The conversation sounds all normal from our end until she hangs up the phone and says, "Since we had a problem last time - they forgot to bring our breadsticks - the whole thing is FREE!" At that, Angela, Jody, Kate and I are all on our feet, screaming. :) Then we all started laughing and said at the same time how good - and funny - the Lord is. He so provides...and never fails to! Why is it that we can't remember that when we're all stressing about buying new houses and renting apartments? When we're looking for new (or summer) jobs? When we're wondering how we are going to eat? When we're trying to remember what the words "savings account" even mean?

Thank you, Lord, for this very surprising - and amusing - blessing. We will surely tip the pizza guy and sing him a little song for our gratitude.

Living my dream vicariously through a friend

Miss USA is on TONIGHT.

And stupid Deal or No Deal is on before hand. All of the delegates for the pageant are holding the suitcases of money (don't ask me - I still don't really get this show) and they showed Miss Illinois for like a flash second. And I! FREAKED! OUT! Catherine!!! I KNOW HER!! OH MY GAH!!!!!!

When I was a freshman in college, I was in Miss Teen Illinois and I was FRIENDS with this girl, who is NOW Miss Illinois. We got put in the same dance group on day 1 (the BEST group, p.s....we started the show!) and were friends the rest of the time there. I have pictures with this girl and I cried when she made it into the Top Ten. We even kept in touch by email after it was over. I haven't talked to her in a couple of years, but I knew her as soon as I saw her face.

CATHERINE WARREN...YOU ARE MISS ILLINOIS!!

Praying for, cheering for and rooting for you. You are truly so beautiful, inside and out.

I need a voice that's bigger than mine.

That is so, so true.

I helped lead worship this morning at Mosaic. I was supposed to have this week off - I wasn't at practice or anything - but Whitley, one of our other vocalists has been sick all night and wasn't in any shape to come this morning. (We missed you, girl!! Feel better!!) After she called Gil, our worship leader, to tell him, Gil called me at 5:30 this morning to see if I could fill in. Of course, I said I would love to. So I got up and got ready to go over.

It was a fun set, "O Praise Him" (David Crowder), "Blessed be Your Name" (Tree 63), "Jesus Lover of My Soul," "Come Thou Fount" (with a Gil Gatch twist) and "Forever" (Chris Tomlin). I had never sang "Jesus Lover of my Soul" before so I had to try and make up a part on my own to fill in the harmonies. It worked out and I have to say that I was pretty proud of myself for finding the right notes. We practiced, did sound checks, ran through transitions and prayed. Then it was off to the lobby to meet some new people (which is my one of my favorite parts!) and then the countdown clock said that it was time for worship to start the service. Granted, I love church EVERY week because the volunteers really come together to make the whole experience amazing, but this week it was especially great. The congregation was really responsive, you could feel God's presence in the theatre and it was just a really great worship experience - and I mean, for myself! When the set was over, Naeem came up like always to introduce himself and direct people to the meet-and-greet while we (the band) moved our equipment out of the way for the decor team to set up for him. I was moving mics and music stands and grabbing water bottles off the stage when I heard Gil say, "Good job today, you." I turned around and yes, he was talking to me. "I was really impressed with your voice." I didn't know what to say. I probably just said "Thanks!" and went to sit down. But that has already come back to me like 5 times today.

Here's the catch: I wasn't trying!! True, I have been practicing and trying to work on my voice. I am indeed my own worst critic and want to increase my voice quality. I need to stay on key more and I'm trying to get more comfortable with finding my own harmonies. Yes, these are all things that I am conciously trying to "fix" with my talent. However, this morning during worship, I WASN'T focusing on those things. I just got into worship and focused on the Lord (what a concept!) and let Him work through me to lead. What incredible things God can do when I let Him. When I keep my own criticisms and abilites out of the way. Relying on God's voice is so much better than trying to fight with my own.

Going along with our series right now, "Won by 1," there are certainly individual people that have helped me to mature in my relationship with the Lord. And thank you's are now in order. Thank you, David Crowder, for being so right. "I need a voice that's bigger than mine." Mine is far from the best, but with God's spirit at work within me, I guess that's when my God-given talents can shine. Thank you, Lord, for not giving up on me when I try time and time again to do it on my own. I promise that one day this lesson will stick. And thank you, Gil, for not giving up on me for the same reasons. The people on this worship team are such a blessing in my life that I would NEVER be able to express my sincerest gratitude for your friendships and encouragement. Like I said in this morning's video, my life was changed because of you. And your encouragement, especially this morning when I hadn't even asked you for it, has really touched my heart.